Combination armchair and bed



March 2, 1954 C. MACHET 2,670,785

COMBINATION ARMCHAIR AND BED Filed Jan. 9, 1953 2 Sheets-SheerI 1 INVENTOR CHAQLES MAcHeT mika/ewa ATTORNEYS March 2, 1954 c. MACHET COMBINATION ARMCHAIR AND BED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1953 '22 INVENTOR CHARLES MAC HET yy VATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIWBINATION ARMCHAIR AND BED Charles Mache-t, Lyon, France Application January 9, 1953, Serial No. 330,490

This invention relates to furniture construction. More specifically, the invention has reference to convertible furniture, wherein a chair is convertible into a bed, or vice versa.-

The desirability of convertible furniture of the type stated is well appreciated, and it need not be dewelled upon at great length herein. It is believed sufficient to note that an item of furniture of the character described can be used advantageously in hospitals, sanitariums, and convalescent homes, as well as on steamships, at beach resorts, and at other locations.

' However, in addition to the general desirability of converting the chair to a bed, and the bed of the person reclining thereupon getting oi the furniture pieceto effect the conversion it is desirable that said person be enabled to effect the conversion without the assistance of another person, since such assistance might not be available at the particular time when the conversion is to be made.

' It is, accordingly, the main object of the present `invention to provide a piece of furniture so designed as to permit its conversion either into a chair or into a bed by the person reclining thereupon without the necessity of calling upon an assistant.

Another important object is to provide a piece of convertible furniture as described which will automatically extend into a full length bed when changed from a chair into a bed.

Still another important object is to provide a convertible chair and bed so designed as to permit the conversion to be effected by a simple pivotal adjustment of the component frame portions thereof. Yetanother objectof importance is to provide convertible furniture as stated, wherein a back support for the bed is readily shiftable into a position wherein it will serve as a canopy frame 'when the furniture piece is converted into a chair. Y

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawings, in which like referenc-e characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a piece of furniture formed in accordance with the present r invention, the full lines indicating the positions of the parts when the furniture is being' used as a bed, and the dotted lines indicating the position of said parts when the furniture is prepared for use as a chair;

into a chair, without requirement 5 Claims. (Cl. 155-49) Figure 2 is a bottom plan view, the parts being illustrated as they appear when the furniture piece is in use as a bed;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view, illustrating the structure when converted into a bed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure l, illustrating a latch means embodied in the construction;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on line 5--5 of Figure l and illustrating the arrangement embodied in the invention whereby a piece of canvas webbing is secured to the frame of the structure;v

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the complete structure as it appears when converted into a chair;v

Figurev 7 is a top plan view of the structure as it appears when in use as a chair; and

-Figure 8 is an yenlarged detail sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Figure 3 and illustrating a separable connection used between the back support of the structure and the frame thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the structure constituting the present invention includes a plurality of connected frames which, together, form the vbasic components of the complete assembly. These include a front end frame, a connecting means, a back frame, and a rear end frame, each of which will be described in turn.

Thefront end frame has been designated generally by the reference numeral l0, and includes a pair of horizontal, parallel, tubular side rails l2 extending along the opposite sides of the chair-bed, being disposed along opposite side edges of the seat portion of the assembly when said assembly is being used as a chair. This construction is believed best illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. As will be noted from these figures, at their frontV ends theside rails l2 are respectively integral with depending, vertical front` legs I4. At their lower` ends the legs I 4 are integrally connected to the opposite ends of a forwardly offset, horizontal crossbar I6, which braces the legs transversely of the structure. The 'connecting means has been generally designated I8, and comprises a pair of horizontal, tubular side members 2l! formed open at their front ends and closed at their rear ends by angular pivot brackets 22 that are welded or other- Wise xedly secured to the side'members.

AThe tubular side members 2E! of the connecting means lareproportioned to receive the respective side rails l2 of the front end frame, the side rails extending into the-openifront ends of the side members and sliding into and out of said members. When the side rails i2 are telescoped withn in the side members, the legs I4 of the front end frame will be in the dotted line position illustrated in Figure l. When, however, the side rails are withdrawn to a substantial extent from the tubular side members 2S, the legs I4 will be in the full line position illustrated in this gure.

Thus, V the .iront .end frame he appropriately considered as beifng extensible forwardly of the assembly constituting the present invention, and will be so extended when the assembly is to be used as a bed. When the structure is to be used as a chair, the end frame [il is Vtetraoted rel-aitiye to the connecting means to the dotted .line posi: tion illustrated in Figure l.

The respective brackets 22 ,are formed with pivot bolt-receiving openings 24 aligned transversely of the structure, for pivotal connection of a back frame, generally designated 26, to the rear end of the connecting means.

The back frame 25 is of .tubular forma-tion throughout, and is provided with a pair of parallel side bars 2d, the front ends of which A*terminate at the respective brackets 22 of the main frame. The side bars 28 extend rearwardly of the brackets 22 in the genera1 direction -of the rear end of the structure, and are pivoted at their front ends upon the respective brackets by means of pivot bolts 29. Thus, Athe side 'bars 28 may swing between extreme positions illustrated in ldotted and full lines lin Figure l. In the dotted line position of the side bars, said side bars are extended upwardly and rearwardly of the `con! necting means, to cooperate informing a chair back 4when the assembly constituting the present invention is to be converted for use as a chair. in the full `lin@ positions of the side bars, said side bars are disposed horizontally and are aligned coaxially with the side rails l2 and `tubular side members 2t to cooperate therewith in for-ming the elongated, longitudinally extended side frame Aportions of afbed.

The rear ends of the side bar-s 28 of the 'back frame are integral with the opposite ends of a i cross member 3!) extending transversely of the structure (Figure 2) at the rear end of said structure.

Forwardly of the pivotal connections 29, the back Aframe 25 `is formed vwith downwardly offset portions 32, Ywhich are integral with the front ends o the respective side bars 28 and merge into upper chair leg portions 34. The chair leg portions 35, in turn, merge at their front ends into lower chair leg portions 36 of longitudinally i curved formation.

The Yrelationship of the side bars 28, upper' chair leg Vportions 34 and lower chair leg portions St to the pivot axis 2Sl of the back frame 2?) is believed to be of importance. As particu larly well shown in Figure l, the side bars 28 are disposed radially of said pivot axis, while the upper chair leg portions 34 are `offset radially of the pivot 2d. The lower chair leg port-ions 36, in this connection, are arranged as arcs having the pvot axis 2E of' the back Vfra-me as their center, said lower chair leg portions being shiftable about said center between extreme positions shown in full and dotted lines, respectively, in Figure l. In the full line position of the lower chair leg portions 36, and of the upper chairleg portions 8.1i, said portions it and 34 form the intermediate legs of an elongated bed, In the dotted line position of these parts, they cooperate to provide the rear legs of a chair.

Integral with and extending between the lower or rear ends of the leg portions 36 is a cross brace 38 disposed transversely of the assembly constituting the present invention (see Figure 2).

Means is provided for holding the back frame 26 against movement relative to the connecting means I8 in either extreme position to which the back frame is adjusted. To this end, a latch or detent is mounted upon .one side of ,the structure, the construction thereof being illustrated in detail in Figure 4. This latch includes a tubulardatch housing 4) mounted rigidly upon the front end of one of the side bars 28. A latch rod 42 `la'pnided with a handle is slidably mounted within the housing 48, and is surrounded within the housing 'by a coil spring 44. At its front end the rod 43 iS provided with a head 46, the spring 44 abutting at one end against said head and at its other end` against the end wall of the housing, thus to urge the head 45 forwardly into engagement with a selected notch 48 of the latch bracket -2 .contiguous thereto. When the head d3 is engaged in .one notch d8, it retains the back frame in the dotted line position illustrated in Figure i. When, however, the head 4.6 is engaged in the other notch d8, it retains .the back frame in the full line position illustrated Fig-- ure 1.

A rear end frame has been vgenerally riesignated 5t and is best :shown Figures 3 and 7, said rear .end ira-me being also illustrated to advantage in Figure 6.

The rear end frame 5E is formed from a plurality .of pivotaliy connected members, and .includes a -pair .of main support bars 52 which are pivot/ally connected, .SLS at :54, to 'the Oppfite endsf of the cross member 3l) of the back frame. The bars 5.2. when in the position thereof illustrated Vin Fis-ure 3, .denne the rear end legs .of the bed inte which the illustrated assembiy can be converted.

At their other ends the respective Amain sup port bars 52 of the rear end frame are pivotally joined at f5.3 to the ends of crossing intermediate links 5B. The links 56, in tur-n, are pivotally iconneeted at their other ends. as at Si), to ftheeuter ends of end links A52, 64.

The end links 5 2 and .6G are lapped at their inner ends, and are pivotally connected to one another by a pin 65. That end of the link 62 which is connected to the link .64, in -this .cennec tion, is formed integrally with a laterally ex tended, angular tongue E5 (Figures .3 and 8i, which is vadapted to enter a longitudinal slot yt!! formed medially between the opposite ends of the cross member 30.

,a chain 1o is connected to ,one of the intermediate links 55, and carries a drop pin .12, The drop pin i2 is extendable through. openings formed the respective links 5.6, said openings resistering when the rear end frame is .adjusted to .the position illustrated in .Figure f3. for supporting the bed at lone end. Thus, by inserting the drop pin 'E2 in the registering openings of the link-s 56, the rear end frame may be suitably braced against movement when adjusted to said position.

When, however, the assembly is to be converted into a chair (Figures .6 and '7), the drop pin 'l2 is Y removed from the openings in which it was previously inserted, and this will permit the component parts or the rear end frame to be shifted to the Dosition illustrated in Figure To adjust said parts of the ,rear end frame to the position or rieure 7, :it :is merely necessary to, remove the tongue 5.5 .from .its associated slot t8., after which the tongue S6 may be gripped as a handle and pulled toward the front end of the assembly. This will cause the main support bars' 52 to swing inwardly toward one another, over the cross member 30, until said main support bars 52 are aligned longitudinally with their associated intermediate links 5S.

In this position of the rear end frame, it serves as a canopy frame, over which a canopy 14 of canvas or similar material can be placed when the assembly is being used as a chair.

At the intersection of the respective side rails I2 and front legs lll, the front end frame I9 is provided with downwardly and rearwardly extended ears 'IS that are rigidly mounted upon the front end frame and are formed with openings aligned transversely of the structure. The openings of the ears 'I6 are adapted to receive (Figures 1, 2 and 6) the outwardly and laterally projected front ends 18 of parallel extension rods 8B. .The extension rods 80 are of generally elongated formation, and are provided at their rear ends with outwardly and laterally extended rear end portions 82 received in openings formed in the respective chair leg portions 34 of the back frame. Thus, the front end frame l is pivotally linked with the back frame 26. l

A canvas extension web 84 extends between and is connected along its opposite side edges to the respective extension rods 8i) (Figures 2 and 6), so as to support one end of the reclining persons body when the assembly is being used as a bed. To prevent the extension web from shifting longitudinally of the extension rods, tie loops 85 are connected to the front corners of said web, and are passed around the respective front legs l 4.

A main web of canvas or like material has been designated 88, and is formed to such a length as to extend from the front end of the connecting means I8 to the rear end of the back frame 26. The main web is connected along its 'sides both to the connecting means and back frame, and for thepurpose of connecting said main web tothe tubular side members 2B of the connecting means, the main web is formed with front sideflaps 89 (Figure 5), extending about the side membersV 20.

A series of springs Sil disposed transversely of the assembly is so arranged that each spring is connected at one end to the side flap 89 contiguous thereto. At their other ends the springs are connected to the respective side edges ofan elongated, reinforcing web 92 that underlies themain web B8, and extends substantially from endV to end of the main web. As a result, themain web is tensioned transversely of the assembly, so as to afford a strong, comfortable support for the reclining person, whether said assembly is being used as a chair or as a bed. i l' For the purpose of permanently securing the reinforcing web 92 to the main web, stitching- 94 is employed, extending longitudinally Vof the -opposite sides of said reinforcing web. y

A rear series of springs 98 is employed, said springs being connected at one end to rear side flaps 9S Yformed upon the main web, and at their other ends to the opposite side edge portions of the reinforcing web 92. The rear side flaps 96 eX- tend about the side bars 2S of the'back frame, thus to tension the main web transversely of the back frame and cooperate with the tensioned front end portion of the main web in supporting, comfortably and yet strongly, the body of the reclining person. Y Y

.The main web is also connected to the'oross member 3o ofthe back fra-maand to this end a rear end flap |00 is provided upon' the main web,

said rear end flap extending about the cross member 30 and being notched midway between its opposite ends (Figure 3) to provide clearance for the tongue 66. The rear end flap |00 is connected to a plurality of rear end springs H12, disposed longitudinally of the assembly (Figure 2) and connected at their inner ends to a rear end reinforcing strip 104 stitched or otherwise secured to the under side of the main web 88.

Considering the use of the structure, it will first be assumed that the structure is being used as a bed (full line position, Figure 1). As a rst step, the person reclining thereupon disengages the latch from the lower notch 48 to free the back frame 26 for swinging movement relative to the connecting means. By shifting to a sitting position, said person then disposes his entire weight upon the front end portion of the main web 88, and the pressure exerted downwardly upon the main frame by the person so doing causes the en" tire assembly to rock forwardly upon the lower, arcuate leg portions 36. If necessary, this forward rocking movement can be aided by a reclining person, who may shift his or her weight forwardly of the assembly.

As the connecting means rocks forwardly upon the leg portions 36, the upper leg portions 34 are shifted downwardly from the full line position illustrated in Figure l to the dotted line position illustrated in this gure. This causes the extension rods Si? to pull rearwardly upon the extension frame iii, causing said frame to be retracted into the connecting means.l

At the same time, the forward rocking movement upon the lower leg portions 36 is effective to swing the back frame to the dotted line position illustrated in Figure l, thus to cause the entire assembly to be converted for use as a chair.

Thereafter, it is merely necessary, if the user desires a canopy, to pull the rear end frame 50 forwardly of the back frame to the position illustrated inFigures 6 and 7, thereby to provide a canopy frame. j When the assembly is to be used once again as a bed, the user disengages the latch from the upper notch 43, and presses rearwardly with his head or hand upon the upper portion of the back frame 26, thus causing the back frame to swing downwardly to the full line position illustrated in Fig- Vure 1, the action being effective to extend the frontend frame Il) once again. The latch is then engaged once again in the lower notch 48.

It is .believed to be of importance, in this connection, that the conversion of the assembly from a chair into a bed causes the over-all length of the Aassembly to be extended to provide a full length bed. Subsequently, the conversion of the bed into the chair is eiective to shorten the portionof the structure that supports the pelvis and lower limbs of the user, to provide achair formed with a seat portion of a proper length that will support the user of the chair in a comfortable, seated position. v

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarilyvconned to the specic use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since-such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation andthe means` presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends anyfminor changes in construction that mer be permitted within the scope of the anfnended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In convertible furniture, a generally horie zontal connecting means for supnorting the lower- Dalt f the body of a user;- ront support legs de-` pending from one end thereof and slidably connected thereto; and a rigid backV frame pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the connecting means, said back frame including a pair of side hars having means thereon for supper-tine the upper part of said body, and said back frame having a pair of rear support legs having upper leg portions rigid at one end with and onset rear-v wardly from` the rest of respective side bars in parallel relation thereto, said rear support legs having supporting surface-engaging lower leg portions rigid with the other ends of the upper leg portions, and curved in aro having the pivot point of the side bars as its center, rigid inea-ns pivotally connected between the front and rear legs, said back frame being roclable on the lower leg portions between extreme positions in one of which the side bars are aligned, horizontally with the connecting mea-ns to cooperate therewith in forming a bed, and in the other of which the side bars are inclined for coaotion with the connecting means in forming a chair.

2. In convertible furniture, a generally horizontal connecting means for supporting the lower part of a users body; a frontend frame telescoped at one end in one end of the connecting means for extending the length of the front end frame, said front end frame including a pair of depending front support legs; a back frame pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the other end of the connecting means and said front end frame, said connecting means and one end of the baffi frame having means thereon for supporting the upper part of a users body and have ing a pair of rear support legs at its other end, the rear Support lees having lower les portions curved in an arc having the pivot point of the bacia frame as its center, the back frame being rockable on said lower leg portions between ex- I treme positions in one of which its nist-named end is disposed substantially horizontally to coact with the connecting means in forming a bed and` in the other of which said first-named end of the back frame is inclined to coact with the connecting means in forming a chair; and extension rods pivotally connected at their opposite ends to and extending between the rear support legs and iront end frame, respectively, said rods being arranged to translate pivotal movement of the back frame between the rst and second! named extreme positions thereof into slidable movement of the iront end frame between front end fra-ine extended and retracted positions thereof, respectively.

3. `In convertible furniture, a generally hoi-i, zontal connecting means for supporting the lower part or" a users body; a front end frame telescoped at one end in one end of the connecting means for extending the length of the front end frame, said front end frame including a pair of depending front support legs; a back frame pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the other end of the connecting means and said front end frame, said connecting means and one end o fthe back frame having means thereon vfor supporting the upper part of a users body and having pair of .rear support legs at its other end. the rear support legs having lower lee por tions curved in are having the pivot point of the been freine as its center, the haelt freiney be ing lockable on said lower lee portions between extreme positions one of which its firstfnamed, end is disposed substantially boriaontallyf to eo-n act with the connecting means in forminga bed and in the other of which said lstdlomed end ofthe back frame is inclined to ooaot with the connecting means in forming a chair; extension rods pivotally connected at their opposite ends. to and extending between the rear support legs and front end frame, respectively, said rods heing arranged to translate pivotal movement of the back frame between the rst and seconde named extreme positions thereof into slidahle movement of the front end frame between front end frame extended and retracted positions thereof, respectively; and said second named means comprising webbing mounted upon said connecting means, back frame, and front and frame, respectively, for covering the same.

fl. In convertible furniture, a generally hurl--l zontal connecting means for supporting the lower part of a user's body; a front end frame telescoped at one end in one end of the connecting means for extending the length of the front end frame, said front end frame including a pair of depending front support legs; a back frame pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the other end of the connecting means and said front end frame, said connecting means and one end of the back frame having means thereon for supporting the upper part of a users body and having a pair of rear support legs having lower leg portions curved in an arc having the pivot point of the back frame as its center, the back frame being rockable on said lower leg portions between extreme positions in one of which its rst-nan'ied end is disposed substantially horizontally to ooact with the connecting mea-ns in forming a bed and in the other of which said first-named end of the haelt frame is inclined to enact with the connecting means in forming a chair; extension rods pivotally connected at their opposite ends to and extending between the rear support lees and front end frame, respectively. Said rods being arranged to translate piv-v otal movement of the back frame between the ist and second-named extreme positions thereof into slidable movement of the front end traine, between front end frame extended and retracted positions thereof, respectively; said second named means comprising webbing mounted upon said connecting means, hack frame, and front end fratrie,y respectively, for covering the same; and latch means adapted Vfor locking the back frame against movement from selected positions to which it is pivotally adjusted relative to the oonneoting means. y

,5.Y In, convertible furniture, a generally borisv zontal connecting means for supporting the lower part of a users body; a front end frame telescoped at one end in one end of the connect ing means foi` extending the length of the front end frame, said front end frame including a pair of depending front support legs; a back frame pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the other end of the connecting means and said front end frame, said connecting means and one end of the back frame having means thereon for supporting the unser part of a users body and having a pair oi' intermediate support legs at .its other end the intermediate support lees having lower les portions curved in an are haring the pivot oi the .beck frame as its een:

ter, the back frame being rockable on said lower leg portions between extreme positions in one of which its irst-named end is disposed substantially horizontally to coact with the connecting means in forming a bed and in the other of which said first-named end of the back frame is inclined to coact with the connecting means in forming a chair; extension rods pivotally connected at their opposite ends to and extending between the intermediate support legs and front end frame, respectively, said rods being arranged to translate pivotal movement of the back frame between the rst and second-named extreme positions thereof into slidable movement of the front end frame between front end frame extended and retracted positions thereof, respectively; a rear end frame including a pair of support bars pvotally connected at one end to the back frame for swingable adjustment between one position in which said support bars form the rear end legs of a bed and in the other of which they form a part of a frame for a chair canopy; said second named means comprising webbing mounted upon said connecting means, back frame, and front end frame, respectively, for covering the same; and latch means mounted upon the back frame and adapted for locking the back frame against movement from selected p0- sitions to which it is pivotally adjusted relative to the connecting.r means.

CHARLES MACHEI.

References Cited in the file 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 914,671 Phillipson Mar. 9, 1909 1,809,226 Walter June 9, 1931 

